OUTREACH OVERVIEW

Outreach is the process through which funds raised during Exam-AID sessions are reinvested in community development projects in Latin America. This is where the work that our chapters do has the chance to come full circle and they can see first hand, how the funds that they worked so hard to raise supports communities in achieving their development goals.

Trips are open to anyone under the age of 30 and provide the opportunity for participants to immerse themselves in a different culture, learn about development issues in another country and grow as individuals. Volunteers will do this while working on the construction of a project designed to improve access to education within that community and taking part in cultural activities in the area.

Our most basic philosophy at Students Offering Support focuses on collaboration with our partners on education projects that the communities identify as necessary in improving the landscape of education locally. We work and learn with our Latin American partners to find and build relationships with various communities to understand how we can best support their development.

To learn more about SOS's Development Work and Outreach Trips:

VOLUNTEER TRIP 411

SOS Outreach trips are typically two weeks in length and offer students the opportunity to work side by side with our NGO partners towards the
completion of a project that their chapter helped to fund. Students will work on a construction project that will improve the access to and quality of
education in their destination community. Projects range from the traditional (school repairs, classroom and computer lab construction) to the
untraditional (gardens, water and sanitation projects) and the recreational (sports courts). This two-week experience provides the opportunity to get
to know a new country, learn about the development issues facing communities in Latin America and participate in cultural exchange. Click here for a sample
outreach trip itinerary.

Most SOS Outreach Trips happen in February, May and August; but keep an eye on our National Outreach Trips page for opportunities to join trips at other points throughout the year! Although most of our outreach trips are associated with a
specific University Chapter, volunteers are welcome to apply to any trip!

For a list of Frequently Asked Questions, click here to:

OUTREACH TRIP PROGRAM FEES

SOS outreach trips are designed for students & young-professionals - from the type of work and activities while in the community,
to the logistics and program fees. We understand that our primary volunteers are university students with limited funds and often aren't able to commit
to an experience like this twelve months in advance! As such, SOS makes it a priority to provide the most affordable volunteer abroad trips around while
allowing participants to join a trip as close as 4 weeks before its departure date! On average, a two-week volunteer trip costs between
$2,000 and $3,000 and includes the following:

Round-trip flight with the group

Comprehensive travel and medical insurance

Accommodations

All meals while in the community

In-country transportation to/from airport and the project site

Pre/during/post trip support, including Spanish resources!

The above items are arranged for participants by SOS staff, SOS volunteers, and our community partners. The only things your program fee doesn't
cover are costs for any weekend excursions, vaccinations required, and airport exit fee (if your destination country requires one). For a
detailed breakdown of costs, click here.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Safety of all our volunteer participants is a top priority of ours and our NGO partners. This means:

We review each of our communities in terms of their ability to safely accommodate volunteers, and train them with the skills to do so

We provide pre-departure training to ensure that particpants are knowledgeable about worksite safety

We provide each participant with the necessary safety gear for their volunteer work

We provide each participant with comprehensive insurance and register them for government services while traveling abroad

We provide each group with two (fantastic) leaders, one from Canada and one local, who work with the group and the community for the full duration of the trip to ensure the experience is life-changing while being safe!

To learn more about Safety, Prices and Logistics:

About SOS Outreach & Volunteer Trips

Volunteer Outreach Trips

Outreach trips are the end product of what SOS does after helping students at home with exam review sessions. Through Exam-AID donations collected
throughout the year, and the help our partner organizations, SOS is able to fund construction projects that support schools in Latin America. Anyone can go on an
SOS Outreach trip and have the experience of a lifetime for roughly two weeks, immersing themselves in a different culture, and helping to make a difference in the
lives of our partnering communities. Check out the video (left!) to learn more about Outreach Trips, and see below to learn more about any upcoming trips.

Travel. Volunteer. Gain Perspective.

Upcoming Outreach Trips

There are no upcoming trips open for registration at the moment. By early November, all trips for the upcoming year (early May and late August) will be
open for applications. Click here to see a list of all posted outreach trips nationally,
or follow us on facebook to be the first to know!

Outreach Trips in Pictures!

Our Trips, Policies & Procedures

Past Outreach Trips

Below is a history of our chapter's outreach trips. Click for more information about them (video, pictures, information, etc.).

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TRIP TESTIMONIALS

"This was my 3rd outreach trip with SOS, anticipated it to be similar to the first two. Reflecting upon returning home, I was overwhelmed with
thankfulness that I was able to experience another trip. These aren't just trips that last a week or two, these are life experiences that stick with
me for much longer than the time we are there and they motivate and drive me to continue learning more so that I can do more. "

--Trudy Cronkhite,
,Lajitas, Honduras

"I think that actually being dropped into these environments really puts into perspective the fact that what we may consider stressful issues in North America are irrelevant to them. It was quite humbling and really boosted appreciation for how fortunate we are. "

--Jackson Hounsell,
,Asiento Viejo, Nicaragua

"I found that my trip to Guatemala with SOS was well organized, extremely well staffed and very safe. The most memorable moment of the trip was when we came back from a hike and the local children greeted us with English phrases that we taught them the day before. I felt like a proud parent! During the mornings, we would work on building the school with the locals whom were so welcoming. Stepping out of my comfort zone and into a electricity-less community has allowed me to further appreciate what I have and had made me want to give back to other communities. I would absolutely go on another trip!"